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Feeding birds can be fun and quite relaxing; however, it can at times be tedious if you have to keep chasing one squirrel after another. The idea is to feed birds and not squirrels. If you love feeding birds, I bet you relate well to this problem. One of the quickest ways to solve it is to get a squirrel proof bird feeder. In this article we are going to be taking you through the best squirrel proof bird feeders.

Undoubtedly, brome is one of the best manufacturers of bird feeders. What’s good about the 1057 bird feeder is it well-crafted to attract different types of perching and clinging birds. This feeder comes with a seed saving technology that keeps squirrels away and feeds birds in peace. The feeder opens on the bottom section giving bird’s easy access to the seed trays. When squirrels mount it, their extra weight closes the access to the tray thus removing access to the seeds. In additional to that, it features the negative grip tube which defeats the squirrels from getting access to the seed saver technology. Squirrels are smart, however, with this feeder, they are literally unable to grab the wire with their hind legs and hang upside down on the feeder thus making the 1057 a perfect squirrel proof bird feeder.

Zenith Innovation 003 Oasis Bird Feeder

Also renown as the Effort Less Bird feeder, Zenith Innovation 003 Oasis Bird Feeder comes with a freestanding seed dispenser that is considerably easy to clean and can hold a larger volume of seeds. Its bird friendly but squirrel hostile. This is because it features a squirrel guard that wards of squirrel and other small animals. Its large feed tray is able to attract wide variety of birds. Besides seeds, it also features two water cups on its side. In addition to that, there is also an additional tray that catches any seeds that fall off the main tray. Being a free stander, it’s quite easy to move and clean. It has a strong base that can withstand snow, rain and heavy winds.

Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster

Another great product from Brome, the Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster is the best bird feeder in the market today. Featuring a patented squirrel’s buster technology, this bird feeder sees to it that your friends are comfortable, safe and cozy. The feeder comes with a three quart capacity which can hold different varieties of seeds. Its unique design is quite enticing to the birds as it accommodates the chirping and perching types. It features a seed port that only allows birds to get access to seeds. When squirrels come over, the added weight closes the ports automatically. This implies that the squirrels are only prevented from accessing seeds but they are not injured. Unlike other bird feeders, you can adjust the default weight if you want to allow heavier or lighter animals only.

These bird feeders are the best of them. They are beautiful, durable, reasonably priced and have high endorsements from previous customers. Better still, they have an efficient system that prevents squirrels from eating up your bird seeds.

If you love hummingbirds and like seeing them in action then you probably know attracting them using homemade hummingbird nectar is the easiest way to bring them to your backyard. There is a lot of myth out there, about just what needs to go into the nectar. While most homemade hummingbird food recipes published online outline the essentials, most people remain confused because of an equally large number of literatures that contain conflicting information. This narrative offers information on the ingredients that healthy nectar should have and, highlights some of the feeding hints you should enforce if you want a colorful buzz in your backyard.

Hummingbird nectar recipe contains just two items, clean water and sugar. Most people tend to add dyes or food coloring and honey or artificial sweeteners. Such practices are not necessary; in fact, prudent birding frowns upon such unnecessary ingredients. Honey may make the nectar ferment a lot faster than is normal and, it can make the hummingbirds develop inflammations in their throats.

Dyes and food coloring on the other hand, add no value. People who use them do so thinking that they attract birds. Naturalists believe there is no ecological proof that the dyes indeed attract hummingbirds. Moreover, most hummingbird feeders have red portals and yellow flowers, which should suffice in attracting the birds. Dyes, food coloring and sweeteners contain additives that hummingbirds have no business ingesting or even digesting for that matter.

Feeding hints

Perfect timing – Hummingbirds, especially the ruby-throated, start their migration early. Therefore, you may want to put your feeders out just as early, probably as early as mid-March, depending on your location. Doing so gives you a good chance of attracting the early migrants. Residents of Canada and Northern U.S. may want to do so towards the end of March while people residing along the Gulf Coast should hang their feeders at the beginning of the same month.

Apt feeding – During the early stages of migration highlighted above, you should fill your feeders to the level that the birds can exhaust so you do not waste nectar. Graduate the level up and only fill the feeders to the brim when the birds can drain them in three days or less. For an entire season’s action, you may want to keep your feeders in place the entire summer and take them down early October. If you are able to keep the nectar from freezing then you can try keeping the show going up until after Thanksgiving because stray hummingbirds, though uncommon, sometimes wander from the western U.S. and often stay all winter.

Location of the feeders – Offering hummingbirds food allows you to be close to their tantalizing action. It is thus only reasonable to hang the feeders in full view of the important ‘windows’, especially those with a direct unobstructed view from your breakfast and dinner tables. Though hummingbirds rarely run into windows, it is not advisable to position the feeders too close to the windows to avoid accidents, even if rare. And, if you hang more than two feeders in your yard, then position them such that there isn’t a clear line of view between them. Multiple feeders are preferable though the recommended number is three feeders in every backyard.

Disciplined feeding – At a cursory glance, hummingbirds appear to prefer nectar to other foods available to them. The reality however, is that they have a much disciplined feeding ecology and visit flowers in your yard where they suck natural nectar. They also trap small insects and feed on plant sap whenever they can. It is therefore not necessary to spend a fortune on prepared mixes that contain vitamins as well as some preservatives. These mixes as unnecessarily expensive and the preservatives they contain are not good for the digestive systems of hummingbirds.

Driving away intruders – Once you hang and fill the hummingbird feeders with nectar, ants and bees are going to become a constant problem. You can use an ant moat to keep the ants away. Attract the bees away from the feeders using a saucer placed in the open, with sugar and water solution. These two fixes are preferable to pesticides and insect sprays, which may harm juvenile hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are captivating birds and if you can attract them into your backyard then you are sure in for an enchanting time. Using homemade hummingbird food recipes to make healthy nectar is a start. Following these hints then helps improve the experience.

Feeding Hummingbirds is an inexpensive and a rather easy pastime. All you need for this is a bird feeder, household sugar and some water. As simple as that. Here are a few guidelines for you before you get started.

Bird Feeder:
The two most important aspects to be kept in mind while selecting hummingbird feeders are 1)How large they are and 2) How easy they are to be detached and clean. In order to be a responsible bird feeder, you must keep a very vigilant eye on the cleanliness of the feeder and make sure that fresh nectar is always available to your little guests. We all live in a busy world, so choosing a feeder should only make your tasks easier. It is advised that you buy a feeder that has removable parts so as to facilitate cleaning. The importance of this feature should not be underestimated. We will look in detail on this in the maintenance section.

Hummingbirds will eat almost anything that contains nectar in it. But, the only problem for them is to find it. It is a widely accepted tip to paint the feeder in red for hummingbirds. Studies have revealed that these tiny creatures are attracted to the red colour than any other colour. So, placing a feeder in full red is practically a beacon for the birds saying “YOUR FOOD IS HERE”. In case you don’t find a feeder in red colour, don’t worry. Tying a piece of bright red band would do the trick. Once the birds discover the feeder, finding the nectar in it is a piece of cake for them. After all, it is their food, right!

Food:
In their natural habitat, hummingbirds feed on nectar from the trees for their energy and they get their proteins from the bugs. Flower nectar is made up of 21-24% sucrose – our regular sugar- So, it is very inexpensive and easy to make. But culturing the bugs is a risky and a tiring job, so I recommend you to leave it aside. Here is the recipe for making the nectar:
1) Mix 1 part of table sugar to 4 parts of water. Make sure that the sugar is cane sugar and not corn sugar or beet sugar. It is not that beet sugar is harmful for the birds, but anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the birds prefer cane sugar to anything else. Never use honey to feed the hummingbirds. Coming to the water, Spring water is preferred, but tap water also serves the purpose.
2) After mixing the sugar and water, bring the mixture just to boil and then remove it from the heat. Stir the mixture constantly so that all the sugar dissolves evenly. Also, do not boil the mixture for too long as it may result in a thicker concoction than you might need.
3) Cover the mixture and cool it before emptying it into the storage bottle. For the storage bottle, it is recommended that you use a relatively larger bottle to store the nectar in your refrigerator and use required amounts from it in the feeder.

Placement:
The best place to place the feeder would be in the shade as the nectar remains fresh and lasts longer. But, if you are ready to change the feeder often, you can hang it in the sun even. Make sure that the feeder is placed high and remotely so that cats cannot reach it. You can also try hanging it out of your window so that you can watch your tiny guests eat to their tummy’s full. Hummingbirds are very agile that they lose their fear of us slow-moving animals rather quickly. Just within a few days or a week of feeding, the birds will probably let you come right next to them and you can watch them eat.

And Finally, the most important part;

Cleanliness:
Sugar water is a very rich medium of growth for bacteria and yeasts. Yeasts might cause fermentation which is harmful to the humms. You must change the nectar frequently to make sure that these little birds are unharmed by your feeding. Atleast. In cooler temperatures I.e, below 70 degrees, we recommend changing every week and for temperatures above this, change the nectar within a gap of 3-4 days. Also, clean the feeder with hot water every time you change the nectar. In case you sense contamination, use a mild bleach solution to clean it up. But be sure to rinse it thoroughly afterwards. Once in a month, soak the entire feeder in a solution of warm water along with a mild bleach solution and rinse thoroughly. If your feeder is attracting ants, use Ant Guard to prevent them.

So, this is how you should be feeding hummingbirds. Good luck and have a nice time with your new friends.

The great state of Texas isn’t just about prairies and barbecue, it also hosts great living for people of all walks of life, especially in Lake Conroe. Lake Conroe real estate markets are some of the best in the north Houston area including the lakefront community of Diamondhead, the lush and vibrant April Sound, the prestigious Walden and Cape Conroe areas, and the relaxed Point Aquarius. Lake Conroe’s real estate agents are renowned for really catering to their customer and showing them exactly what their lifestyle could be. Waterfront living is a luxury that people who have lived in Lake Conroe have grown to love, taking advantage of the beautiful weather and terrain at any time of year.

People living in the non-gated community of Diamondhead enjoy affordable living on properties between $300,000 to $700,000, while non-waterfront homes located on the interior range in price from the $150’s to $250’s. Diamondhead is located in the Montgomery County Utility District #4 which provides both water and sewer to residents with a relatively low tax rate. It location places it in close proximity to most restaurants and stores around the area which makes Diamondhead a great place to live on Lake Conroe.

Feeling like you need more of the outdoors? Cape Conroe features an outstanding local park and a very friendly playground for its residents. There are smaller entry level homes that start near $100,000 while open waterfront single family homes have sold as high as $600,000. Utilities in Cape Conroe are all electric as no natural gas is available.

If you seek a quiet neighborhood that isn’t isolated, Point Aquarius is conveniently located in between Sam Houston National Forest and the peaceful waters of Lake Conroe.
Point Aquarius is a more compact gated community ranging approximately 700 homes which makes it one of the mid-to-small range sections of Lake Conroe. The security gate is staffed 24/7 which adds to the privacy and serene environment for the elderly, families and experienced home owners. Residents enjoy close-range big city amenities while enjoying a decompressed lifestyle that comes with the lakeside environment . Point Aquarius also provides easy to access routes to and through the I-45 Energy Corridor leading to The Woodlands lying approximately 25 minutes headed south.

Walden was built from ground-up as the community that is also among Lake Conroe’s more coveted and famous. Estates tend to start at $200,000 and there are many residential options as this community sprawls up along miles and miles of shoreline. Grand waterfront estates, wooded interior locations and golf-course residences all fit into the greater tapestry that is Walden. This community’s amenity package comprises a grand neighborhood pool located near a yacht club, tennis facility for all weather conditions as well as a full-service Marina specially set up for fueling up your water-craft, in case you need a day out in the lake.

As you can see, the real estate market of Lake Conroe is as diverse as the people who work, live and play there. We can help you find a place to call home knowing it’s right for you. Lake Conroe is the community you’ve always wanted to live in, but you have to experience it for yourself!